News Mississippi

House approves “Back the Badge Act”

In hopes of protecting Mississippi’s first responders, a new law was approved in the House.

“Back the Badge Act” or House Bill 645 has been approved on concurrence by the House of Representatives.

If the governor signs it into law it would double the penalties for any crime committed against a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician.

The bill was authored by Rep. Alex Monsour of Vicksburg.

“Especially after everything that has happened this last year, we want these men and women to know that we are going to protect them in the same way that they are protecting us,” Monsour said.

The concurrence on the bill comes just one day after two firefighters were killed in a hit-and-run accident in Lamar County. Rep. Andy Gipson said that this sort of thing needs to be taken more seriously.

The bill passed concurrence by a vote of 94-18. It has now been sent to the Governor’s desk.